the idea of Increasing the performance of normal cars has always had its appeal. Bootleggers in the American West modified their pickup trucks in the Prohibition era of the 1930s to outrun the police. The result was the birth of the hot rod.
The boosted saloons of the 1980s were the result of racing homologation, which required manufacturers to produce a certain number of road-going versions of their racing cars in order to compete. Hot hatches were also born out of rally homologation, with improved versions of daily hatchbacks offering economical thrills as well as practicality.
While American muscle cars will always be popular in their home country and high-performance German saloons continue to sell well, the hot hatch has become extinct. The rise of SUVs, lack of demand for smaller cars and electrification are key factors in this. But with the new A290, a modified version of the new Renault 5, Alpine is bringing it back, albeit in electric vehicle form.
The A290 is Alpine’s first new car in seven years and the first model in its all-new line of all-electric machines. It will be followed by the larger A390 crossover and the new A110, an EV version of the French brand’s acclaimed low-slung sports car. The A290 is “the hatchback of the electric era,” according to Alpine, and it’s easy to see its appeal. It is built on Renault’s new AmpR Small platform, which it shares with the new Renault 5. It has 220 hp in GTS form and weighs 1,479 kg. Its closest rival, and another electric hot hatch, is the upcoming Mini Electric John Cooper Works. It has 254 hp, but also weighs 1,670 kg, a significant difference of 191 kg.
Trip review
This is felt in the way the A290 drives. While it shares basic underpinnings with the Renault 5, including its slim battery that sits under the car, Alpine has completely revised the suspension and braking system. The shock absorbers have hydraulic stops, which help provide comfort and responsiveness, and the engine subframe was also created from scratch, made from aluminum to help keep weight down. There are also front and rear stabilizer bars, developed by Alpine, while a multi-link rear axle offers greater stability and precision.
All of this combines for a smooth ride that’s firm enough to feel sporty, but not too harsh. It absorbs bumps well and you get a lot of information through the steering wheel. In Sport mode, the steering has pleasant resistance and feels surprisingly natural. The steering is lightened in Comfort and Economy modes, for easy cornering in the city. When pushed, of course, understeer occurs, being front-wheel drive, but lifting mid-corner allows the rear to move slightly, giving the car a playful character when under pressure.
The Alpine’s 220bhp gives good initial power through corners, but fades quickly and lacks a real surge of excitement. The 52 kWh battery is the same one used in the top-spec R5, but the sound is very different. For the A290 there is ‘Alpine Drive Sound’, which Alpine has developed with the French audio brand Devialet. Essentially, it is an electric hum that is said to be an enhanced version of the natural sound produced by the electric motor. It’s not particularly inspiring, but it provides good auditory feedback, in the same way an engine does, letting you know where the grip is as you accelerate and decelerate.